Thursday, Nissan 24, 5784 / May 2, 2024 (9th day of the Omer)

 

Shalom. I hope you had a wonderful Pesach holiday together with your loved ones, family, and friends. Thank G-d we were together with our children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Also, my mother, who is thank G-d, 100, attended the two Sedarim with us. Thus, enjoying five generations at the Seder Table, B”H.

 

Passover teaches us not to take miracles for granted. We must recognize them for what they are and express our thanks to G-d for ALL He does for us. May we merit to see open miracles very soon when the hostages will be freed and join their families, AMEN.,  

 

At the conclusion of the Seder many recite, “The Passover Seder is now concluded.” It is followed by a prayer that we merit to perform the Seder next year in Jerusalem in the Holy Temple.

 

However, some have the custom not to say the passage, “The Passover Seder is now concluded.” Their reasoning being that even if the physical aspect of the Seder is over, the spirit, the feeling of freedom and holiness of the Seder, is to continue throughout the entire year.

 

May it be the will of G-d that we should all be blessed to have continued Nachas and family unity throughout the year as we experienced on the Seder nights. Amen.

 

We are now in the Sefirah mode. The Torah says, "And you shall count unto you... seven weeks complete they shall be.” From the second night of the holiday of Pesach, until the holiday of Shavuot, (seven weeks), we perform the mitzvah of Sefirat HaOmer – counting the Omer, each night, for a total of 49 days.Each night, at the conclusion of the evening service, we recite a special blessing and count the Omer – stating the number of the Omer for that night.

 

Q. What is the significance of the “Sefirah” – the counting of the Omer?

 

A. When G-d sent Moshe to liberate the Jewish people from Egypt, He told them that the purpose of their freedom was to receive the Torah at Mount Sinai. They counted the days in anticipation of the receiving the Torah. We count the Omer daily, from Pesach to Shavuot, when we received the Torah, to remind us that the purpose and realization of true freedom, which we attained on Pesach, is through the study of Torah and adherence to G-d's commandments, which elevates us to being a holy nation and a truly free people.

 

The word "Sefirah" which means "to count" can also be understood as "to illuminate".  Counting the Omer (Sefirat HaOmer) each day, teaches us to illuminate each day of our lives, with Torah and mitzvot. It also teaches us that one should not be content with yesterday's achievements. Rather, each day we should bring additional spiritual light into our lives.  It teaches us tomake each day count.

 

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY, SUCCESSFUL & WONDERFUL DAY

 

UNITED WE STAND IN PRAYER FOR OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN ISRAEL

& FOR THE WELFARE OF THE CAPTIVES. MAY THEY BE RELEASED NOW.